Rod Urquhart

Web offset – printing in a hurry

2010-01-05T10:17:00+01:00

Rod Urquhart marvels at the way web offset has met myriad challenges to become such an outstanding print process

Finishing in front

2009-10-09T11:47:00+01:00

Print scientist and awards judge Rod Urquhart says creating the perfect embellishment is all down to planning and care

A whine about Wine

2008-01-15T13:00:00+01:00

Rod Urqhart outlines how the PRINT lab is helping wine label producers

Research update

2007-03-16T13:00:00+01:00

Rod Urqhart explains how the current research at the Print laboratory will benefit the whole industry.

A discussion of light fastness (where the answer is not 299,792,458 metres per second!)

2006-04-17T07:00:00+01:00

Since returning from holidays, Rod Urquhart spoke to two of the absolute technical pillars of the inkmaking fraternity, Fred Vale of DIC Colortron and Otto Stumbras of Siegwerk, about the lightfastness of printed material. This inspired him to update one of his early articles on ink fading

Project update - the odyssey continues

2005-11-14T06:00:00+01:00

In this, my last article for 2005, I will update a couple of the research projects that I have chronicled over the past three years

Printing mechanics (but not in overalls)

2005-09-09T07:00:00+01:00

The relationship between ink and water is deep and complex, with analysis by CRC uncovering some surprising results.

Nanotechnology it's the biggest little thing in science

2005-09-09T07:00:00+01:00

Rod Urquhart expands on the tiniest science of all " nanotechnology " and explains how it may enhance print enormously.

Judging excellence

2005-06-07T07:00:00+01:00

Some basic errors were surprisingly present in print jobs submitted to the National Print Awards judging committee.

When small is beautiful

2005-05-02T07:00:00+01:00

Ink and water may not necessarily flow into the paper in the way we always thought, explains Rod Urquhart.

Flexo printing in the new Asia

2005-01-18T06:00:00+01:00

Asian flexo printers are really lifting the quality of their work, warns Rod Urquhart.

We came, we saw, we wondered

2004-08-16T07:00:00+01:00

Along with many other companies and organisations in Australia, representation from the National Printing Laboratory went along to drupa with great expectation and not a little excitement at the prospect of viewing the world’s greatest showcase of the industry.

Plasma and paper

2004-07-06T07:00:00+01:00

The technology behind the new generation of television screens is now being applied to paper, writes Rod Urquhart.

It's been a blue, blue day

2004-05-04T07:00:00+01:00

Reflex Blue and other dye based inks come loaded with potential problems, but if you have to use them great care is needed.

UV coating: An old chestnut

2004-03-08T06:00:00+01:00

We need to consider the cases of UV coating both wet on wet (WoW), and wet on dry (WoD) over UV and conventional inks, as each set of circumstances is different.

Ghosts in the machine

2004-03-01T06:00:00+01:00

Problems with ghosting are common enough in the printing industry, but with a bit of knowledge, they can easily be overcome.

Sticky situation

2004-02-17T06:00:00+01:00

UV coating adhesion problems - haven’t we heard of that before?

Measuring colour

2004-01-16T06:00:00+01:00

Know your densitometer from your spectrophotometer? Every printer should have at least one, says Rod Urquhart

Ghostly fright

2003-12-12T06:00:00+01:00

Problems with ghosting, whether mechanical, gloss or gas, can be alleviated by taking certain preventative steps.

Extracting the ink

2003-10-24T07:00:00+01:00

Taking the ink off paper may not be foremost in your mind as you spend your time putting it on, but CRC Smartprint is aiming to help the industry become more efficient and environmentally friendly through de-inking and recycling.

What is digital printing?

2003-10-17T07:00:00+01:00

Rod Urquhart gets into the science of inkjet and electrographic printing processes, which look set to become the fourth major printing process in the next few years

How we became CRC Smartprint

2003-08-14T07:00:00+01:00

Print scientists are rapt with the development of their research centre, and already developing innovative technologies for, among other uses, hickey analysis

You'll wonder where the yellow went

2003-07-10T07:00:00+01:00

You’ll wonder where the yellow went

UV - Many happy returns

2003-07-10T07:00:00+01:00

Rod Urquhart concludes his analysis of the developments of UV technology in Australia